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There’s an App for that???

Smartphone App Developed for Running DNA Paternity Tests

Researchers at University of California, Irvine have developed an Android app that conducts DNA-based paternity tests. The smartphone app can reportedly compare digitized genomic data to determine if an individual is the father of another individual. This feat is particularly impressive in light of how much computer number-crunching power one might think is necessary to sort through DNA segments.

Under current methods, people seeking a DNA paternity test have their sample taken, usually with a cotton swab scraping the inside of their mouth, which is then sent to one of the national DNA testing labs (typically in Texas or Virginia), and results are returned in a matter of days/weeks. Before people start searching for the app on their smartphones, note that the app only reviews/matches digitized gene data, so a person needs to have their DNA sample taken, then converted to data. Still, it would seem that a phone attachment in which two people insert their DNA sample (spit?) and get a paternity test, isn’t too farfetched.

Gavin K. Doi

Gavin, a founding partner of Doi/Luke, was born and reared in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, graduating from McKinley High School, and receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law in Denver, Colorado. Previously, Gavin worked with the Child Support Enforcement Agency and the AmeriCorps Domestic Violence Clinic. An advocate of pro bono legal work, Gavin volunteers time with Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii and the Hawai’i State Bar Association. In 2013, Gavin co-authored the book Child Custody Litigation and Settlements (Aspatore Books/Thomson West), penning the section "Working with Your Client Towards a Successful Child Custody Case." Gavin is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the HSBA Family Law Section, and was presented with the 2002 Justice Award by the Hawaii State Bar Association, which honors one lawyer annually for their outstanding contribution to the ideals of justice. The Hawaii Access to Justice Commission honored Gavin in 2012 for his pro bono service to the community. Gavin has extensive experience in divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, restraining orders, and other family law matters, and has a Distinguished rating with Martindale-Hubble®/Lawyers.com, and an Avvo rating of 10 out of 10. He can be e-mailed at: gkdoi@islandlawyers.com .

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